Canada’s epic climate fail

Posted in Climate change on November 22, 2010 (updated: February 17, 2015)

Authors

Kimberly ShearonStaff

Given our government’s inaction at this week’s ongoing climate treaty talks and global warming discussions in general, it’s no surprise that Canada is suffering some serious damage to its image and status on the world stage.

Despite the fact that 62% of Canadians want action of climate change, our country’s leaders are increasingly being singled out by the world community as climate change laggards and obstructionists. From scientists seeking our suspension from the Commonwealth, to George Monbiot’s scathing critiques, it appears that Harper will have a weak welcome tomorrow when he arrives at the talks, and a weaker one once he’s back.

But the Canadians representing us at Copenhagen could care less about their rep abroad, or even their laws at home. The federal Conservatives built their minority government on the idea of ignoring the legally-binding Kyoto treaty, and they are seeking a more diluted carbon target.

Our inability to follow through on the Kyoto Protocol Implementation Act (KPIA) is a massive failure of our international treaty obligations, and that’s why we applied to the Supreme Court of Canada yesterday with the problem of KPIA being completely ignored by this government.

We hope the Supreme Court agrees that our domestic and international laws cannot be ignored, blocked or stalled by a small group of climate bullies. We’re expecting word on our application early in the new year, and if it’s successful we will be in Canada’s highest court in the fall.